Pamela Kay Allen (née Griffiths; born 3 April 1934) is a New Zealand children's writer and illustrator. She has published over 50 picture books since 1980. Sales of her books have exceeded five million copies.

Early life and family

Born in the

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

suburb of Devonport in 1934 to Esma Eileen (née Griffith) and William Ewart Griffiths, Allen studied at St Cuthbert's College, then the Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland, from where she graduated with a Diploma of Fine Arts in 1955. She then worked as a secondary school art teacher. She married sculptor Jim Allen in 1964. They moved to Sydney in about 1977, and after about 30 years returned to live in Auckland, New Zealand.

Writing career

Allen published her first book, ''Mr Archimedes' Bath'', in 1980. Since then she has written and illustrated more than 30 picture books for children. She has won or been shortlisted for many awards as both a writer and illustrator. She won the Children's Book Council of Australia's Children's Picture Book of The Year Award in 1983 for ''Who Sank the Boat?'' and 1984 for ''Bertie and the Bear'', and has been shortlisted for the same award on five other occasions. She twice won the Ethel Turner Prize in the

New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards The New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards, also known as the NSW Premier's Literary Awards, were first awarded in 1979. They are among the richest literary awards in Australia. Notable prizes include the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction, t ...

, in 1980 for ''Mr Archimedes' Bath'' and 1983 for ''Who Sank the Boat?''. Allen was awarded the

International Board on Books for Young People The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is an international non-profit organization committed to bringing books and children together. The headquarters of the IBBY are located in Basel, Switzerland. IBBY history In 1952, Jella Lepm ...

honour diploma for illustration, for ''Who Sank the Boat?'', in 1984. In 1986, she received the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa Russell Clark Illustration Award for her illustrations in ''

A Lion in the Night ''A Lion in the Night'' is a 1985 children's picture book written and illustrated by Pamela Allen. It is about a baby who makes a wish, transforms her toy lion into a real one for one night, and goes on an adventure. Reception ''A Lion in th ...

''. In 2001, ''Who Sank The Boat?'', first published in 1982, won the Gaelyn Gordon Award—given to the author of a New Zealand children's book that has been a favourite with children over a long period of time—from the New Zealand Book Council. Allen returned to live in Auckland and in 2004 she won the

Margaret Mahy Medal The Margaret Mahy Award, officially the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award, is a New Zealand literary prize presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to children's literature, publishing or literacy. Presented ann ...

, New Zealand's top children's literature prize. In the 2005 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to children's literature. Eight of her books have been adapted for the stage by Patch Theatre Company and performed at the Sydney Opera House. Allen's daughter, Ruth Allen, a Melbourne-based glass sculptor, was commissioned by Penguin Australia in 2008 to create an artwork to celebrate sales of over five million copies of Allen's books.

'' *'' Cuthbert's Babies'' * ''Belinda'' *''Mr Archimedes' Bath'' *''Who Sank the Boat?'' *''Bertie and the Bear'' *''Herbert and Harry'' *''Fancy That!'' *''I Wish I Had A Pirate Suit'' *''My Cat Maisie'' *''Black Dog'' *''Mr McGee'' *''Mr McGee Goes to Sea'' *''Mr McGee and the Blackberry Jam'' *''Mr McGee and the Biting Flea'' *''Mr McGee and the Perfect Nest'' *''Mr McGee and the Elephants'' *''Alexander's Outing'' *''Waddle Giggle Gargle'' *''The Bear's Lunch'' *''The Pear in the Pear Tree'' *''Inside Mary Elizabeth's House'' *''Can You Keep a Secret?'' *''Brown Bread and Honey'' *''The Potato People'' *''Daisy All-Sorts'' *''Grandpa and Thomas'' *''Grandpa and Thomas and the Green Umbrella'' *''Where's the Gold?'' *''My First ABC'' *''Shhh! Little Mouse'' *''Felix'' *''The Toymaker and the Bird'' *''Hetty's Day Out''

References

External links

Pamela Allen pictorial material and papers
1974-2016, manuscripts, audio cassettes, video recordings, etchings and illustrations, State Library of New South Wales. {{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Pamela 1934 births Living people People from North Shore, New Zealand Elam Art School alumni New Zealand children's writers Writers who illustrated their own writing Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit New Zealand women children's writers New Zealand women illustrators 20th-century New Zealand women writers 21st-century New Zealand women writers 20th-century New Zealand writers 21st-century New Zealand writers New Zealand expatriates in Australia

Early life and family

Writing career

See also

Further reading

References

External links